C.J. Wilson Hopes to Solve Comerica Park Curse

Los Angeles southpaw C.J. Wilson is off to a great start in 2014 as evidenced by the fact that he is 2-1 with a 3.92 ERA and 1.16 WHIP, including a 1.12 ERA and 0.625 WHIP on the road. Playing on foreign soil has never been an issue for Wilson as he is a perfect 10-0 with a 3.44 ERA in thirteen road starts dating back to last season. However, the one destination that has haunted Wilson is Comerica Park where he is 1-3 with a 9.38 ERA in his last five outings. In fact, Wilson has yielded a combined 18 earned runs on 23 hits in his last seventeen innings pitched in Detroit.

The good news for Wilson is the fact that he is supported by a surging Los Angeles offense that is averaging 5.9 runs per game this season, including 6.4 runs per game on the road, 7.1 runs per game versus right-handed starters and 9.0 runs per game in afternoon contests. The bad news for Wilson is the fact that Los Angeles owns a woeful bullpen that enters today’s game with a 5.26 ERA and 1.50 WHIP (51.3 IP; 30 ER; 9 HR; 25 BB).

Meanwhile, Detroit right-hander Max Scherzer takes the mound with a 2.70 ERA and 1.05 WHIP in 2014. More importantly, Scherzer is 2-0 with a 1.64 ERA with 27 strikeouts in 22 innings over his last three meetings against the Angels. Overall, Scherzer is 2-1 with a career 2.39 ERA and 0.94 WHIP versus Los Angeles. However, like his counterpart, Scherzer is plagued by an atrocious Detroit Bullpen that has a 5.23 ERA and 1.37 WHIP this season, including a 5.93 ERA and 1.46 WHIP at home.

Wilson’s road record will certainly be put to the test this afternoon as Torii Hunter has gone 11-for-33 with two home runs against him, while former Texas teammate Ian Kinsler is 8-for-18 with four extra-base hits against Wilson. Los Angeles could also be without third baseman David Freese, who was a late scratch Friday due to tightness in his quad. The loss of Freese would hamper an already-depleted Los Angeles lineup that is missing outfielders Kole Calhoun and Josh Hamilton.